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Freedom messages from around the world

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Up to 45 million people are trapped in slavery, worldwide

On March 14, students took action to fight modern slavery

(CNN)What an incredible day. On March 14, students at hundreds of schools, spread across six continents, did something amazing: they came together to form a global community, shining a light on modern-day slavery.

It was colorful, for sure. In Erzurum, Turkey, students produced posters and eye-catching artworks; in Qingdao, China, pupils used hand prints to make their mark against slavery, and in Hertfordshire, England, students had a "Holi run," throwing colored powder to celebrate freedom.

But there was a serious side too, with debates, film screenings and presentations that brought home the reality of human trafficking, a crime that has some 45 million victims worldwide.

Above all, there was a sense of hope -- that with young people as committed and creative as these, slavery can become a thing of the past.